Target is bringing its first small-format store to the Dallas area next summer. The store will open in Preston Center in Dallas near upscale shoppers in Preston Hollow and the Park Cities.

The 54,700-square-foot store will open in July on the west side of the shopping center in the Pavilion building at Westchester Drive and Berkshire Lane.

Target is taking over the area that had been occupied by Ross Dress for Less and other vacant space, according to a Target spokeswoman. The Pavilion now houses CVS, Marshalls, Office Depot, DSW and Gold's Gym.

The 231,000-square-foot shopping center is owned by Crow Holdings, which could not be reached for comment.

A couple of years ago, Crow Holdings had wanted to build a skybridge from the Preston Center parking garage to a proposed Tom Thumb, but those plans didn't go forward. The additional traffic congestion and parking issues were also raised at the time.

Target's smaller concept

Last month, Target opened its first small-format store in Texas near the campus of the University of Texas in Austin. That store includes a CVS pharmacy and a Starbucks inside.

Target has developed the small concept to fit into neighborhoods where a traditional 120,000-plus square-foot store wouldn't fit. It's opened various sizes to fit into urban areas, densely populated suburban neighborhoods and on college campuses. Target has said it will have 130 of these smaller stores open by the end of 2019.

So far, Target has opened 59 small-format stores. Stores opened this year range in size from a 19,600-square-foot store near the University of Cincinnati to 50,000-square-foot stores in East Palo Alto and Phoenix.

The Preston Center store will sell beer and wine and serve as a pickup point for online purchases, said Mark Schindele, senior vice president properties at Target. Online orders are usually ready in an hour, Target said.

Merchandise will be tailored to the area, Target said. Groceries will be focused on fresh produce and grab-and-go items, snacks and meal solutions. The store will stock smaller selections of home décor, beauty, apparel and accessories, some consumer electronics, toys and sporting goods.